I really can't believe it. I am one of those guys that HATES changing ECMs because I never really believe that they are the problem. Its got to be a sensor, a wire, or something else.

Anyhow, I bought an 85 T/A on Craigslist for 500 bucks. I used my tire budget money since the ad said that the tires were like new with only about 100 miles on them. I figured, "what the hell? Worst case scenario I get some extra parts too.) So I made the deal and brought it home, swapped the tires onto my 89 T-Top car that my mom daily drives, and tinkered with the car a bit.

I got it to run, but it ran really bad. Pig rich, hard starting, the whole bit. I went over every sensor, found lots of problems, fixed everything I know of and still it ran terribly. I have an 88 VIN F Camaro as well, but the MAFs fit differently so my attempt to swap the parts for testing wasn't working out. After poking around here for a while I decided that the best thing to do would be to convert the car over to the '165 ECM so that I could rule out the ECM and the odd MAF controller by using normal MAF TPI hardware.

I just finished re-pinning the ECM and wiring up my new MAF relays about an hour ago. It started right up! It starts, idles, runs, drives, the whole bit!

I was so excited I drove it to the gas station and filled up with 93. Now I'm just running down the little issues and getting the car to daily driver status. Its totally rust free underneath and on top its only got surface rust where the Florida sunshine blew the paint clean off. No dents, and just a few scratches. Very dirty.

Anyhow, I went through this little exercise to encourage anyone else out there with an 85 TPI system to budget for an ECM swap. I'm sure the speed density swap is just as good with the results, its just that I happened to have another '165 car in the fleet to help me test my theory. Now I've got to locate another ECM to put back in the Camaro.

 

I probably should also mention that I did put a new fuel pump and fuel filter on it straight away. Those were two initial problems I faced before even getting it to fire. The starter also died on the second day...

 

Always a recommendation for a keeper car.
The slow clunky 85 ECM is hard to find and little support ;not to mention eliminating the one year only ,hard to find , expensive when you do MAF burnoff module

 

Agree, Wish more guys with 85 would swap. The burn off bye bosch is nothing special actually you can install two relays in its place. (Another Useless Fact about TPI)-Brought to you bye TP

 

Yeah, I used two Chinese 5 pin relays with harness pigtails and put them on the Passenger Side near the blower motor relay. Works good so far. I'm going to do an extended test drive today in the sunshine.